Luminous switch-key.



M. T. ROSENHEIM.

LUMINOUS SWITCH KEY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913.

1,077,305, Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

INVENTOR lvsssiss B UNITED sTA Es PATENT OFFICE.

""MIL'THN or'rriiflnntrfim'; Pewsytvam. 'nummops swirfi iinr.

" rteitteii Ndvlh, i913.

To't'zll wli'om it mail concern Be'itknown' that I, MILToN T. ROSEN- nn'rM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain'new and useful Improvement-sin 'Luminous Switch-Keysfof which the' following is a specification, reference being had to the'accompany'ing drawing. g D

) The principal objects of my IIIVQIItIOII are,

'to' provide a luminous switch key for use in turning on or'ofi electric switches orthe "controlling 'c'ocks of gasfixturesand the like, or for use in push switches or push "buttons, 'of such constructiqn that it may be visible'fromany position ma darkroom; to

provide a luminous switch key which shall p'er'r'nane'ntly retain its luminosity under all conditions ;'which shall not require exposure to daylight or to artificial light from tune to time, in order to maintain it in a luminous condition, and to provide'a luminous switch key, which may be cheaply and easily cons tructed, and which'rn'ay be used in connection 'with the ordinary type of"'gas or electrio fixtures or switches now upon the market.

Other objects and features of my invention will appear in the following specificas tion and the drawing forming apart of this application. I I

In thedrawi'ng, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a luminous switch key constructed in accordancewith my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof taken on line 2- -2'in- Fig. 1, the' key being removed from its shaft, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section ofthe same taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. Fig.- 4 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of luminous switch key embodying the features of my invention; F 5 is an end view of the same; Fig.- 6 1s a vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-'-6 in Fig.

glass, 'and which is preferably constructed "by cementing or' otherwise fastening together two or more sections 2, 3, by means of a thin layer ofcement 5, or in any other desired manner. These sections, which'may .be formed in any desired shape, are preferably hollowed utpn their meeting faces in such manner as to form a cavity of any de ,sired depthin the said faces, so that when the-sections 2,3, are brought together and 'fixedly secured to each other by the cement 5 or other incans to form the .body of the key, a closed cavity 6 of any. desired size and depth, within the limits afforded by the key, is. formed therein, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. For the purpose "of attaching thev key. to the switch or other object, the key maycbe provided atone end, which maybe suitably enlarged for this purpose, witha cylindrical threaded aperture 7;.of any required depth, the threads of which, if desired, .may .be molded in the glass orother material of which the key is made, or may becut thereiliin any desired manner for the'purpose of receii'ing the threaded end of the switch shaft 10, as clearly shownin F ig. '1, ortif desired, the key may be attached to the switch shaft 10 in any. other suit-able manner. In case the keybe formed with anapertulfe 7, inthe manner described, it is generally. preferable to make this aperture of such depth that it will not connect .with the cavity 6 which is formed within the body ofithekey, as shown in Fig. 2, although, if. desired, it may be made of such depth as to connect with saidcavity. 4

Within the cavity '6, which is formed preferably inthe manner heretofore described, and preferably before the two sections of the key 'are cemented or otherwise secured together, is introduced. a luminous substance 12 in any desired quantity, which substance may. preferably consistof radiumize dv zinc sulfid, or some other radiumizedsubstance within the cavity insolid, .liquid, pasty .or powdered form, as clearly shown. in Fig. 3, or if desired-it may be applied as. a coating to the walls of: the cavity in amanner to be hereinafter described. This substance, owing to its inherent capacity for giving off li ht, wi as may er slilye n s v to illuminate the key, and owing to the fact that the luminous material is surrounded on all sides by the translucent or transparent or compound, This substance may be placed" substance composing the body portion of the key, the latter will appear as a luminous body from any position which the observer may assume within the room injwhich it is situated.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is shown a slightly 'modified'form of key embodying the principles of my inventiom This key is also. constructed with a body portion 13 comprising two sections 14, 15, hollowed out on their meeting faces to form a suitable cavity 17 in a manner similar to that already described. For the purpose of holding the sections in fixed relation to form the key body in this type of key, a plurality of rivets 18 may be employed, which pass through suitable apertures in the sections 14, 15, and serve to secure the same firmly together. For ailixing the key to the switch shaft, or other object, a threaded stub shaft 20 is secured within a suitable cavity at one side of the key body, which may be suitably enlarged at that point, by cementing it therein or in any other sultable manner, and projects outwardly from the key, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, being operative to engage in a suitably threaded socket in the switch shaft or other like object, to which itmay be desired to secure the key.

In Fig. (3, the luminous substance within the cavity 17 is shown as being applied to the sides thereof as a coating 22 rat-her than as fillin the cavity in the form of a paste or pow er, or otherwise, as shown in Fig. 3. Of course, it will be evident that, if desired, such a coating may be used in a key of the form shown in Fig. 1, or the cavity 17 in the form of the key shown in Fig. 4 may be filled with a luminous substance rather than coated therewith, if it be found desirable.

Figs. 7 and 8 respectively clearly illustrate the use of a luminous key constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, in connection with an electric light socket, and with a gas controlling cock on a gas pipe or fixture. In fact, keys embodying the principles of my invention may be used in any place or for any purpose in a manner similar to the ordinary type of keys now in general use, while possessing moreover the great advantage of being continuously luminous at all times, as well as the further advantage that such a key will always present a luminous appearance, no matter from what angle it may be observed.

While I do'not desire to limit myself to the use of radiumized zinc sulfid, or other radiumized substance, in a key constructed in'accordance with the principles of my in Ltvasoa vention, as, if I desire, I may make use of any other luminous substance within the cavity in the body of the key, yet I have found that radiumized zinc sulfid, or other radiumized substances, possess a distinct advantage in that they do not have to be exposed from time to time to daylight,or other light, in order to keep them in a luminous condition, and hence, a switch key embodying such a substance will retain these luminous qualities practically indefinitely although it may be located where it is never exposed to light of any sort, as in a dark closet or cellar.

Having thus fully described my invention, I- claim and desire to protect by Letters'Pateiit of the United States:

1. A luminous switch key, comprising a translucent body portion having an interior cavity and containing a mass of luminous substance, the luminosity of said substance being visible from any angle, and means for attaching said key to a switch or the like.

2. A luminous switch key, comprising a translucent body portion having a plurality of sections, the meeting faces of said sections being hollowed out to form a cavity within said .body portion, means for securing said sections in fixed relation, means for attaching said key to a switch or the like, and a mass of luminous substance within said cavity, the luminositv of said substance being observable from any angle.

3. A luminous switch key, comprising two translucent members having the centers of their meeting faces hollowed out and the edges of said faces united by an adhesive,

means for attaching said key to a switch or the like, and a mass of luminous substance within the cavity between said members; the luminosity of said substance being visible from any angle.

4. A luminous switch key, comprising two translucent members having portions of their meeting faces hollowed out and forming a closed cavity, means for holding said members in permanent contact, means for attaching said key to a switch or the like, and a mass of comminuted luminous material within said cavity, said material being visible from any angle.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 18th day of March A. D. 1913.

HILTON r. aosrrnnm. 1. 5.

iVitnesses GEORGE K. HELBERT,

ALEXANDER PARK. 

